diff --git a/python/tests/test_haplotype_matching.py b/python/tests/test_haplotype_matching.py
index 1bb3a27bf9..6b2ad23b0f 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_haplotype_matching.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_haplotype_matching.py
@@ -1062,7 +1062,6 @@ def check_viterbi(ts, h, recombination=None, mutation=None):
     assert len(h) == m
     if recombination is None:
         recombination = np.zeros(ts.num_sites) + 1e-9
-        recombination[0] = 0.0
     if mutation is None:
         mutation = np.zeros(ts.num_sites)
     precision = 22
@@ -1122,7 +1121,6 @@ def check_forward_matrix(ts, h, recombination=None, mutation=None):
     assert len(h) == m
     if recombination is None:
         recombination = np.zeros(ts.num_sites) + 1e-9
-        recombination[0] = 0.0
     if mutation is None:
         mutation = np.zeros(ts.num_sites)
 
@@ -1170,7 +1168,6 @@ def check_backward_matrix(ts, h, forward_cm, recombination=None, mutation=None):
     assert len(h) == m
     if recombination is None:
         recombination = np.zeros(ts.num_sites) + 1e-9
-        recombination[0] = 0.0
     if mutation is None:
         mutation = np.zeros(ts.num_sites)